To commemorate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, Manakai Swimwear, in collaboration with Malama Maui Nui and Down the Hatch & Breakwall Shave Ice Co., invite the community to Lahaina’s Breakwall beach to take part in a beach cleanup and help spread awareness about the ever-increasing presence of micro-plastics.

Micro-plastics exist as a directly manufactured product called “nurdles,” as well as fragmented parts of larger pieces of plastic debris. Micro-plastics are estimated to make up the majority of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Beach cleanup participants will learn more about these micro-plastics and how to reduce the amount that end up in our oceans, on our beaches—and in the food we eat.

This beach cleanup also marks the celebration of several milestones attained by the event sponsors. Manakai Swimwear recently launched its new and improved 2018 Women of the Wild Collection using an Italian sustainable techno-fabric made exclusively from regenerated nylon 6 fishing nets and industrial surplus. All pieces are sewn in the U.S. to ensure ethical workplace conditions. All beach cleanup participants will be gifted 22 percent off of this 2018 Collection as a sign of appreciation to those who give back to their environment.

Down the Hatch & Breakwall Shave Ice Co. recently received their Ocean Friendly Restaurant Certification by the Maui Surfrider Foundation in recognition of their environmentally friendly operating procedures. These procedures include the elimination of single-use plastic items, such as forks and straws; and the elimination of polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers and plastic bags. All beach cleanup participants will be gifted 50 percent off a Down the Hatch entrée or Breakwall Shave Ice Co. acai bowl.

Malama Maui Nui (a nonprofit that engages the community in litter prevention, recycling and beautification efforts across Maui County) is providing the guidance and the materials required to host a large-scale beach cleanup, while the majority of their team, along with Maui Brewing Company, is hopping over to Moloka‘i to tackle a huge mass of marine debris that is projected to make landfall near Mo‘omomi.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the white Manakai Swimwear tent in front of the hale at Breakwall beach. All participants will be provided with the materials they’ll need to remove large and small debris from the beach, including gloves, bags and micro-plastic sifters. The beach cleanup will conclude at 11 a.m. and all participants are invited to a post-cleanup celebration from noon to 3 p.m. at Down the Hatch, which is located at 658 Front Street in Lahaina.

This beach cleanup marks the first of Manakai Swimwear’s quarterly beach cleanups. Manakai Swimwear aims to honor the ocean, not only by choosing to use sustainable fabrics made from ocean debris, but also to be an integral part of the environmental conservation community of Maui. For more information, contact Kelley Chapman at kelley@manakaiswimwear.com or info@manakaiswimwear.com. To learn more about Manakai Swimwear, visit www.manakaiswimwear.com.